gersting



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. 0. H. GERSTING.

FEED WATER REGULATOR.

No. 500,571. Patented July 4, 1893.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. H. GERSTING. FEED WATER REGULATOR.

No. 500,571. Patented July 4, 1893.

INVENTOR wrmssses UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

CHARLES H. GERSTING, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDSTO JAMES A. BURNS AND GEORGE GLADDEN, OF SAME PLACE.

FEED-WATER REGULATOR.

SBEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,571, dated July 4,1893.

Application filed August 22, 1892. Serial No. 443,723. (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. GERSTING, of Homestead, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Feed-Water Regulators, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improveddevice, showing the same applied toa steam boiler. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional View of one of the valves on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view of part of the apparatus also made on a largerscale than that on which Fig. 1 is drawn.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each of the figures.

In the drawings, 2 represents a steam boiler.

3 is a feed-water supply pipe, having a checkvalve 4: and valve chamber4' interposed therein, as shown in Fig. 3. The stem 5 of said valvepasses through a stufling-box 6 and is provided with apiston 7 workingina chamber or cylinder 8. When this piston moves longitudinally in thechamber 8, it operates the check-valve and forces the same against orremoves it from its seat.

8 is a hole leading into the chamber below the piston and serves toprevent any cushioning action by reason of the imprisoned air.

9, 9, is a steam pipe which leads from the boiler, and communicates, asshown in Fig. 3, with the cylinder 8 above the piston 7.

10 is a valve, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which is interposed in the pipe9, and is provided with annular peripheral ports I), c, the lattercommunicating with an exhaust passaged in the plug or body of the valve.When the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the communicationwith the boiler is cut off;

while by means of the port 0 and passage d,

the cylinder 8 is put in communication with the exhaust-port. If thevalve be rotated partially to the left from the position shown in thatfigure, the port 1 of the valve chamber, which leads by way of the pipe9 to the cylinder 8, is put in communication with the port 11, whichcommunicates, through the other branch 9', with the boiler. The lever 13of the valve 10 is connected with a shaft 14 which projects through theboiler-shell, and has projecting from it within the boiler a levercarrying a float 15. As the water-level in the boiler descends, thedropping of the float will turn the valve 10 in the direction of thearrow 6, as shown in Fig. 2, and if the Water-level should rise, theconsequent lifting of the float will turn the valve in the reversedirection.

The operation is as follows:-The drawings show the parts of theapparatus as they are when the feed-water valve is open, the valve 10being then turned so as to connect the cylinder 8 above the piston 7with the exhaust port d; and the feed-water passing to the boilerthrough the pipe 3. As the water-level in the boiler rises by reason ofthe entrance of the feed-water, the lifting of the float turns the valve10 so as to connect the port 11 with the branch of the pipe 9 leading tothe valvecylinder 8. Thereupon, steam from the boiler, entering thecylinder 8, forces down the piston 7, and closes the valve 4: againstits seat, cutting off the flow of water to the boiler, and holding it inthat position. When the water in the boiler falls, the float will againdrop, turning back the valve 10 so as to shut off the connection of thevalve-cylinder 8 with the boiler through the port 11, and connecting itwith the atmosphere through the exhaust port cl, and then the backpressure of steam from the boiler, acting on the valve-stem 5, togetherwith the feed-water, acting on the check-valve 4, will lift this valvefrom its seat, permitting the flow of water to the boiler. In thismanner a supply of water to the boiler is maintained and regulatedautomatically, and the certainty with which the water can be kept at apractically constant level adds very much to the safety and efficiencyof the boiler.

In order that the working of the apparatus may be observed, I providethe piston 7 with an extended stem 16 and connect it to a pivoted indexlever 17, which by moving over a dial 18 shows the position of thepiston and check-valve.

19,, 20, are nuts by which the limits of motion of the parts may beregulated. By proper adjustment of these nuts, it is possible to preventthe check-valve from closing tightly at any time, and in this wayaslightflow of water can be maintained constantly even during the closedposition of the valve.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art.

Without limiting myself with strictness to the preferred construction ofthe parts herein shown and described, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a feed-water regulator, the combination with a supply-pipe, of acheck-valve therein arranged to be opened automatically by the pressureof the feed water, a piston connected therewith, a pipe supplying steamto operate said piston, a valve controlling said pipe, and a floatoperated by the Water-level in the boiler and connected with the valve;substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a feed-water regulator, the combination with a supply pipe, of acheck-valve therein arranged to be opened automatically by the pressureof the feed-water, a piston connected therewith, a pipe supplying steamto operate said piston, a valve controlling said pipe, and a floatoperated by the water-level in the boiler and connected with the valve;said last named valve controlling an exhaustport and a steam-port, andbeing movable by said float to connect said ports with the piston;substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a feed-water regulator, the combination With a supply-pipe, of acheck-valve therein arranged to be opened automatically by the pressureof the feed-Water, a float operated by the water level in the boiler,and means connected with said float and arranged to force the valve toits seat when the water level rises in the boiler; substantially as andfor the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day ofAugust, A. D. 1892.

CHARLES H. GERSTING.

Witnesses:

W. H. CORBETT, H. H. I-IERVEY.

